individuals into a career that focused on finding them suitable positions and being a valuable resource throughout their professional journey. As I delved deeper into the field, I discovered a growing advocacy within myself for those who may not be aware of the resources available to them or the fair treatment they deserve. Reflecting on my own experiences as an employee, I realized the importance of being inclusive and equity in the workplace. 

During my time at Stanford, I held influential positions that enabled me to drive impactful change within the department. This included spearheading improvements in recruitment practices, organizing inclusive events, and developing training programs designed to promote equity and inclusivity among all employees.

In less than five words, what does justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) mean to you?

Fairness, equality, diverse representation

At a reimagined Stanford, what would a (perfectly) just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community look like?

A reimagined Stanford community would embody a rich diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Everyone would have equal access to opportunities for learning, growth, and success, regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status, or any other identity. Discrimination and bias would be actively challenged, fostering an environment where all members feel valued, respected, and supported. Collaborative efforts would be made to celebrate diversity, and cultivate a sense of belonging for every individual.

What advice do you have for other community members who are interested in getting involved in JEDI work, even if JEDI work is outside their formal job title or job description?

Foster connections with individuals and groups working on JEDI initiatives. Be open to learning from diverse experiences and perspectives. Look for opportunities to take actions that promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in your community or workplace. This could include organizing events, volunteering with relevant organizations, or advocating for policy changes.

How did your career path lead you to JEDI work, including advocacy work?

Before I came to Stanford, I worked on developing a health equity curriculum for a new master’s program at Dell Medical School. We brought in guest speakers from all sorts of fields – leadership at the university’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, local community organizers, and even attorneys – all who spoke about the importance of JEDI work to improve health outcomes.

Currently, I work on ensuring that elsihub.org, a platform for promoting scholarship on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics and genomics, is accessible for users with disabilities. While I had some rudimentary experience with creating accessible web content from the curriculum work I had done before, I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and resources from the Office of Digital Accessibility and advice I received from Kevin P. Murphy, a Digital Accessibility Consulting Engineer at the Office of Digital Accessibility.

In less than five words, what does justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) mean to you?

Empowering communities to thrive

At a reimagined Stanford, what would a (perfectly) just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community look like?

Wow, that’s a great question. As a starting point, it would involve designing for accessibility from the very beginning. Often, accessibility is only considered after a new building is constructed; a new website is built; or a new course is developed. Not only is it much more difficult to make things accessible after the fact, but there are missed opportunities to improve the experience for everyone, not just people with disabilities.

What advice do you have for other community members who are interested in getting involved in JEDI work, even if JEDI work is outside their formal job title or job description?

Everyone has a role in promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion! A good place to start is to consider how to make your own workplace a more inclusive space. Have you considered how implicit bias could impact the hiring process? When you look around your office, would it be accessible to a wheelchair user?

Most importantly, I believe it’s important to remember that JEDI work is an ongoing, lifelong process. Naturally, we want to be able to tackle inequities quickly and efficiently, but these are often interconnected with larger structural issues. As Vice President Kamala Harris said, “none of us just live in a silo. Everything is in context.” Every step we take to make our communities a more just, equitable place builds on the work of activists before us, and the path to our collective liberation is – well, a collective project.

At a reimagined Stanford, what would a (perfectly) just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community look like?

We would have trust across all areas of the work place to carry out our charges.

What advice do you have for other community members who are interested in getting involved in JEDI work, even if JEDI work is outside their formal job title or job description?

Start with yourself and with your community. What would your roommate think of your work? What would your neighbor have to say? What would someone with different affinities share regarding your day to day interactions? How are you challenging yourself to get to know someone different from you?

opportunities. I eventually transitioned into recruiting, where I helped organizations build diverse workforces in engineering and science. Before joining Stanford School of Medicine, I owned a recruiting firm that specialized in diverse executive placements in Big Data, Healthcare, Life Sciences, and BioTech, with the motto "we look beyond the resume." With that motto leading our charge, we consistently found diverse talent to fill key roles for our clients. As a woman of color and a JEDI advocate, I am dedicated to providing fair opportunities to all candidates. It brings me great joy to present diverse talent for leadership roles at the School of Medicine. I aim to help create a respectful and equitable environment where everyone has access to opportunities.

In less than five words, what does justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) mean to you?

Systems free of bias and discrimination

At a reimagined Stanford, what would a (perfectly) just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive community look like?

I read this question and immediately heard Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" :) I don't know if we will ever reach a "perfectly" at Stanford or in the world but, I do believe we can each change our little part of Stanford.  A "perfectly" just, equitable, diverse and inclusive community would be a place where people from all walks of life; different races, genders, cultures, and abilities are visible and valued in every space, from leadership and decision making roles to day to day operations. It would be a place where everyone feels respected, heard, and empowered to share their perspectives, with their contributions being recognized and celebrated. There would be systems and practices in place to continually assess and remove inequalities, ensuring that discrimination and biases have no place at Stanford. People can fully express themselves, and everyone is empowered to succeed, and contribute to a rich, dynamic, and thriving community.

What advice do you have for other community members who are interested in getting involved in JEDI work, even if JEDI work is outside their formal job title or job description?

Get involved. Even if your formal role doesn’t include JEDI, we are all part of this community and can contribute to expanding its values. The JEDI Collective provides a safe space for collaboration, respectful dialogue, creativity, innovation, and mutual learning. Through this type of collaboration and communication, we can break down barriers between individuals and groups. It may push you out of your comfort zone, but it will also make you a better person, equipping you to help others. By engaging, you can make a meaningful impact on your corner of Stanford and the world. And it just makes you feel good when you do good!